Children 1st @ Sheffield

Breedon House Nurseries, 39 Scotland Street, Sheffield S3 7BS
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9.9 199 Reviews
  • Children 1st @ Sheffield, Sheffield
Children 1st @ Sheffield is judged to be 'Outstanding in all Areas' by Ofsted (February 2018) and is located within easy reach of Sheffield city centre. It has been refurbished to offer a bright and spacious learning environment for children aged from birth to five years.

A dedicated and enthusiastic team of early years staff are fully trained and experienced to support the children's healthy growth and development. The nursery has high staff-to-child ratios to ensure each child receives high-quality care.

The age-appropriate rooms have 'free-flow' access to a spacious outdoor garden which has designed to maximise the potential for outdoor play in all weather conditions.

The nursery also provides plenty of extra learning opportunities including Funky Feet dance classes for children aged between two and five years and a sports skills class with Sheffield Wednesday community coaches.

Children 1st @ Sheffield also operates an 'out of school' club for children up to twelve years of age and offers fully grant funded places for children aged three and four years.

Care Provided by Children 1st @ Sheffield

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Deborah Thorne (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 38
  • Total Places for Children
  • 148
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Children 1st @ Sheffield Reviews (199)

Total of 199, showing 1-20
9.9

Children 1st @ Sheffield has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.881) out of 10, based on 57 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Children 1st @ Sheffield has 199 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Children 1st @ Sheffield has been absolutely fantastic for both our kids. The staff are great and the outside and inside spaces are really well designed and equipped. There are too many specifics to pick out all of them, however, for example, it was really helpful that the meals at nursery kept our
child's diet more varied during a picky phase. Also, the transition to school went really well and I think part of this was the impact of Children 1st, educationally, socially and in terms of supporting the transition. Thank you so much!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son attended Children 1st from November 2021 to now. He was a lockdown baby, and I had concerns about his social development in these crucial young years. He started his time at Children 1st when he was 18 months old, and he absolutely loved it. The staff and the setting were fantastic. He has now
blossomed into this very happy, social little boy, and we are very grateful to the team at Children 1st.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Children 1st is a great nursery. My son enjoyed himself and had so much fun there. He told me that all of the food served is delicious and that his teachers were so kind to him. He is usually a picky eater, but he has slowly become open to trying new foods ever since he started going to nursery. He
even asked his mom to cook the same recipes at home. He always looks forward to going to nursery every day. From my point of view, the place and the facilities are the best. We, as parents, always feel so secure every time we drop him off.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Children 1st is one of the best nurseries I ever had for my kids. The staff and the manager are amazing. My daughter had the best time at the nursery enjoying every day and explaining what they have been done. All because of the outstanding teachers and management. Even I love to go there chatting with
beautiful teachers at drop on and off my daughter. I can't thank Children 1st enough for all the lovely hard work they done to make beautiful memories and put my child in the right way for the next stage of her life. Thank you so much for everything.
And a massive thank you to all the teachers for the hard work they have done.

Reply from Emma Goodall, Director of Quality Assurance at Children 1st @ Sheffield

Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been an honour to care for your daughter and we hope she enjoys her next stage of learning! Your memories are also our memories and we will remember your little one fondly.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has attended this nursery for 2.5 years and it's been a wonderful place for her. Staff are very professional, caring and supportive, and they have helped her develop in so many ways, always taking into account her individual needs. All of her key workers have been amazing and have done
a great job (our daughter loved being with all of them). We are very grateful for their dedicated hard work and for creating such a lovely and nurturing environment for the children. Our daughter has enjoyed all of the rooms she has been to and the outdoors space is great. We cannot recommend this nursery enough.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter started at Childrens 1st in January, and we’ve been so impressed with how caring the staff are with settling our little girl into the nursery setting. The staff have been brilliant and really accommodating. We would highly recommend Children's 1st from our experience so far.

Reply from Lisa Wills, Director of Operations at Children 1st @ Sheffield

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review, and we are pleased to hear that your daughter has settled into the nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The teachers are very professional and know how to communicate with children. They are also very patient. They can also communicate with me about my doubts and give me suggestions. Thank you for your valuable advice.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been going to this nursery since he was 9 months old, and this is his final year before going off to school. Children 1st are such an amazing group of staff, who take the time to work with each child individually on not only your basic skills but also working out emotions and giving them
the best head start to life. Our key worker is a credit to herself and really goes above and beyond for everyone. I couldn't recommend this place any more to anyone with young children.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Such a wonderful place for our little boy to learn and strive. We especially love how child-centred every aspect of the facility and staff engagement is. He's been going for almost a year now and just transitioned into the 3-4 age group upstairs - a few months ahead of actually turning 3, because the
staff gauged that he was ready and would benefit from doing the transition together with some other classmates. He's quite shy and reserved, and doesn't usually respond well to changes of routine, but settled in absolutely beautifully without any problems and, in fact, with much excitement. Instances like these demonstrate how much the children are individually observed and considered and give us such great confidence, knowing he's in the best hands every day we drop him off.
We also absolutely love all the messy play/creative learning activities that are constantly provided.
Would definitely highly recommend this nursery facility!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son joined Children 1st Sheffield last August and we couldn't be happier with the choice we made. He's made a great connection with his key workers, as well as the other workers and children in his room. Since starting we can clearly see how much he has progressed and come on in his physical, personal,
social and language development and we know a lot of this is down to his time at Children 1st. The staff are all so personable and professional and we have always felt he's in very safe hands. Couldn't recommend this nursery more and we're excited to see what this year holds for him!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful nursery, our daughter loves it here! The staff are amazing and go above and beyond for the children. Our daughter has developed so much since joining. The nursery is so diverse, embracing all backgrounds and cultures which is so important to us. We would highly recommend Children
1st to anyone- outstanding!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery has been nothing but supportive since our son started in 2021. They're informative, and supportive and have lots of wonderful toys and equipment to keep little ones entertained.
The staff are friendly and do whatever they are able to, to accommodate you and your child's needs.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very good nursery, my son has been attending for the last year and has really grown and developed in every way while attending. I would highly recommend it. The staff are all very helpful and friendly and my son really enjoys coming.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Absolutely adore this nursery! The staff's warmth and attentiveness are unparalleled. It's heartwarming to see how they remember our family, even after a break. My son's face lights up every time we mention going to nursery. It's evident he's not just cared for but truly cherished here. Grateful for
such a nurturing environment. Additionally, the food provided here is simply fantastic! It's such a relief knowing my child is not only having a great time but also enjoying delicious and nutritious meals. The smiles on the children's faces during meal times say it all. Kudos to the kitchen team for their efforts in keeping little tummies happy and healthy.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love Children 1st and couldn't be happier with the care provided for our son.
The staff are always so helpful and always go the extra mile.
We've enjoyed seeing our little boy develop with the support of his nursery teachers.
100% recommend this nursery!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter attends nursery full time and she loves it there. The staff are very friendly and caring and they make her feel welcome every day. I am happy to know she is well looked after and developing new skills with all the activities they plan every week.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am really pleased that I made the choice of sending my son here! In just 4 weeks of being part of this nursery, I have seen my son grow in so many ways. He eats much more and is less fussy, he explores so much more and is very attentive to things around him. The staff are great, they are kind, always
ready to update you on your child's day and the attention to care is great.
My son has eczema and they have been very accommodating of the extra requests we have regarding skin care.
Highly recommend this nursery!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery has been a treasure for us. Our child is having the best experience in there, learning new stuff, becoming a social person and of course, loves the teachers. There hasn't been a time that she said she doesn't love to go there. Although the amount we pay is high, due to a full week attendance,
it is the best money ever spent.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We’re so pleased we chose this nursery for our son. He has settled in brilliantly, the staff are so caring and the facilities are really good. The toys/activities the children have access to are varied and stimulating and the nursery room is bright and clean. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this nursery,
it’s great!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery, our son learned so much at nursery, staff is always helpful and puts smiles on our faces. Food must be amazing as our son eats everything all the time. We are very happy with children 1st. I would strongly recommend it.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.881)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.881) out of 10 for Children 1st @ Sheffield is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 57 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 56 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.881 for Children 1st @ Sheffield is calculated as follows: ( (639 Excellents x 5) + (27 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) + (12 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 681 Ratings = 4.881

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Children 1st @ Sheffield is based on 56 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 148 number of registered child places is 29.6, which has been reached with 56 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Awards / Recognitions (6)

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Meet the Team (1)

Deborah

Deborah Thorne

Job Title: Manager - Early Years

Joined: 1993

My Name is Deborah Thorne and I am the Early Years Nursery Manager for Children 1st @ Sheffield.


I have been working with children since the age of 16. I qualified as a Nursery Nurse in 1993 gaining my N.N.E.B Diploma in Nursery Nursing.


I then worked as a nanny for almost 2 years having sole charge of two boys Edward and Thomas who are now 19 and 21.


I started work for Children 1st Day Nurseries in May 1996 when they purchased the nursery that I was currently working in. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to grow with the Nursery right from day one and have gained a vast amount of experience. I have worked my way up from Nursery Nurse opening the baby unit, to Room Leader then to Deputy Manager and finally on to Nursery Manager in 2000. I have worked with all ages of children and enjoy the challenges that working with different aged children bring but I especially love the Early Years age group and this has been my area of specialism for a number of years.


While I have been with Children 1st I have managed the Newark Nursery for 6 months working with the team and the new Nursery Manager to build up occupancy levels. I then managed St Peters and St Paul Nursery for 2 1/2 years which I really enjoyed as this took me out of my comfort zone and I grew in confidence and was able to develop my own skills. I then came back to the Sheffield Nursery (home) in May 2009 were I have resumed my role as Nursery Manager for the Peter Rabbits and Early Years.


Through my role as Nursery Manager I have worked with diverse cultures and families with different needs and expectations, this has given me the tools to enable me to meet their different needs and make a real difference to children's lives, one of my passions is to be able to offer high quality childcare for ALL children regardless of their status.


My role as Nursery Manager also enables me to work with children with Special Education Needs (SEN) and become a linchpin with families and other members of my Nursery Team, giving our children the best start to their nursery education regardless of their abilities or needs.


I have also built a strong team who I work very closely with and feel I am a good role model to all staff members. I am a qualified NVQ Assessor and gained my Level 4 in Childcare and Education, I enjoy this very much and hope to continue to support all the trainee Nursery Nurses that train with us.


I became a Nursery Manager by chance as I had no desire to become one, I was more than happy being a Nursery Nurse and enjoyed the role as key worker to my children but through a passion for my work and the investment of Margaret I was encouraged to move up the ladder. I enjoy the challenges that being a Nursery Manager brings and feel that over the last 15 years that I have worked for Children 1st Day Nurseries I have gained so much and been able to give so much back.


I believe in the ethos of Children 1st Day Nurseries and am fully committed to our mission statement of: ‘Leading the way, shaping the future’ and providing high quality day care and education, my role as a Nursery Manager enables me to ensure that the children who use our setting are receiving the very best and I can ensure the quality is there all of the time this is why I have stayed with Children 1st Day Nurseries and will continue to stay until I am old and grey (if you let me)


I like lots of things about Children 1st Day Nurseries - the dedication to our small babies that we insist on, the quality environments, the sleeping outside in proper prams, the play experiences that the teams offer, the drive and passion of our teams and the on going commitment that we have to achieving the best that we can be.


I always feel proud when I attend outside training events as I know that out provision is up there with the best.


I hope I inspire other Nursery Nurses to be passionate and proud of the work that we do, and encourage new families to make that brave first step of bringing their children to nursery for the first time to start the education of their children.


Frequently Asked Questions about Children 1st @ Sheffield

What is the Age Range of Children that Children 1st @ Sheffield accepts?

Children 1st @ Sheffield accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Children 1st @ Sheffield Open?

Children 1st @ Sheffield is open: Monday 07:30-18:30, Tuesday 07:30-18:30, Wednesday 07:30-18:30, Thursday 07:30-18:30, Friday 07:30-18:30.

How many Children does Children 1st @ Sheffield have capacity for?

Children 1st @ Sheffield has capacity for a total of 148 Children.

How far is Children 1st @ Sheffield to the centre of Sheffield?

0.5 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.